Policy Advisor, Climate and Forests At Rainforest Foundation UK

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £37,685 – £40,377

Reporting to: Executive Director

Contract: 2 years

The Rainforest Foundation UK:

Founded in 1989, the mission of the Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) is to support indigenous peoples and other communities’ of the world’s rainforests to:

• Secure and control the natural resources necessary for their long-term wellbeing and managing these resources in ways which do not harm their environment, violate their culture or compromise their future.
• Develop means to protect their individual and collective rights and to obtain, shape and control basic services from the state.

Our approach differs from that of other organisations in that we are committed to both human rights and environmental protection. We firmly believe that the best way to protect the rainforest is through empowering indigenous peoples and other local communities to defend their ancestral lands. Instead of purchasing land or conserving forests purely for their biodiversity value, we promote the establishment of community rights to rainforest lands, tackling the root causes of deforestation, and paving the way for local people to benefit fairly from the use and protection of forest resources.

RFUK is recognised as a leading force in the protection of tropical forests and their inhabitants. As well as delivering high-quality on-the-ground practical projects, often in difficult conditions, the organisation is also known for its strong policy and advocacy work in promoting forest peoples’ rights.

Together with our sister organisations in the US and Norway, we have protected more than 84 million hectares of tropical rainforest, an area roughly the size of Scandinavia. Today, RFUK works with over 15 indigenous and NGO partners in the Peruvian Amazon, across the Congo Basin and in other parts of Africa.

THE ROLE

The post-holder will play a key role in driving forward RFUK’s campaign and policy work related to climate and forests. Specifically, they will tackle the growing threats to the Congo Basin posed by the extractive and logging industries as well as associated infrastructure development. The role will also entail exposing ‘false solutions’ to these threats that penalise those least responsible for the climate and biodiversity crises or that serve to delay urgent climate action in the global north.

Whilst an ability to identify and supervise ‘action research’ will be important, the post will be suitable for someone with experience in bringing about change through networking, campaign strategizing and organisation, creativity, communication, lobbying, and with a passion for the issues concerned.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Monitoring & Rights, GIS & Communications teams, the specific responsibilities will be to:

Research, Policy and Campaigns

• Implement campaign strategies focused on stopping or minimising the impacts from the planned expansion of oil and gas, logging and other industries in the Congo Basin.
• Support local and national NGOs and networks in the region to obtain, analyse and critique key documents relating to extractive industries and related developments in their countries, and to mobilise effective advocacy responses where necessary.
• Liaise with other organisations as appropriate to ensure that Congo Basin region NGOs are able to effectively engage in the national and international debates on climate change and forests.
• Identify, commission, supervise and where necessary conduct the research necessary to support the campaign on extractive industry developments, including gathering data to include on RFUK’s MappingForRights platform.
• Prepare to publications standard, and oversee the production of, campaign and programme materials and publications, including leaflets, briefings, reports, map stories and internet material, in consultation with the Communications team.
• Develop and conduct relevant media outreach in consultation with the relevant teams.
• Monitor relevant international, European, UK and Central African forest protection programmes, in the context of wider climate change policy, forest policy and forest community rights.

Other

• Provide support the development of campaign strategies for addressing ‘false solutions’ to forest threats such as the growing commodification of nature as well as for channelling increased climate and biodiversity funding to frontline forest defenders.
• Represent the organisation in relevant local, national and international fora, on relevant policy issues.
• Assist in the identification and development of field projects that have the potential to support the Rainforest Foundation’s campaign and programme work.
• Supervise the work of consultants, researchers and volunteers as appropriate.
• Partake in organisational strategy development and planning.
• Perform other tasks as may from time to time be requested by the Executive Director.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• At least three years’ experience in a policy campaigning environment, probably with an NGO.
• Good knowledge of climate change issues, particularly in relation to forests and human rights.
• Skills in negotiating, including with senior officials, representatives of government, international agencies and NGOs.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a range of different audiences, including an understanding of how the media works and an ability to use the media effectively.
• Fluency in English and competence in French, both spoken and written.
• Demonstrable commitment to being part of a team motivated by political challenges and practical achievements on behalf of indigenous peoples in tropical forests.
• Project management experience.

Desirable

• Degree in a relevant subject, such as forestry, development studies, human rights, environmental law or international relations.
• An understanding of international financial institutions, international organisations and donors such as the UN, World Bank and the EC.
• Experience of working with partner organisations in Africa.
• Good knowledge of indigenous peoples’ rights issues and international agreements affecting them, especially in an African context.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of participatory and rights-based approaches to community development and advocacy.

Personal Skills and Attributes

Essential

Strong personal commitment to RFUK’s mission and values and to social and environmental justice in general.

Demonstrable resourcefulness and motivation, with the ability to plan work and deliver outputs to agreed deadlines.

An ability and willingness to travel to the Congo Basin region and internationally.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – written and oral.

Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to work autonomously, with different teams, under pressure and to multiple deadlines.

Careful and conscientious with attention to detail

Proactive, collaborative and approachable

Personal integrity

Desirable

Knowledge of GIS

SUMMARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Hours, remuneration and place of work

The salary is £37,685 – £40,377 per annum. Workplace pension after two months in the role (4% employer contribution).

The post is offered on a two-year contract, and with a six-month probationary period.

This position is for a full-time role based on a 35-hour working week. Much of the work can be carried out at home, working remotely. However, there is an expectation of at least two office days a week for staff at RFUK. Alternative arrangements may be considered for exceptional candidates.

The monthly salary is paid by Bank Automated Credit transfer, on the 25th of every month.

Holidays, sick pay and other benefits are provided in accordance with statutory requirements. 30 days of paid leave per year are offered.

The place of work is RFUK’s London office located in Units 2-4 The Atelier, The Old Dairy Court, 17 Crouch Hill, London N4 4AP, United Kingdom.

There is no parking provided for the post-holder, although bicycles can be stored at location provided.

Equal Opportunities

RFUK is an equal opportunities employer, and makes no discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, age, physical abilities, religious or sexual persuasion.

Visa Sponsorship

RFUK holds an active sponsors license and a visa may be offered if required by the selected candidate.